[Biochips--tools of 21st century medicine]

In the next years biochips will enter into clinical medicine. Each larger diagnostics laboratory will offer genetic tests with this method. In this article the potential of biochips is shown by two examples: Differentiation and prognosis in breast cancer and individualized drug therapy (pharmacogenetics). In cancer the gene expression profile permits an accuracy of differentiation and prognosis that was impossible so far. Already soon oncologists will make their therapeutic decisions on the basis of biochip-based gene expression profiles. For an individualized drug therapy extensive genetic tests must be accomplished, above all of the cytochrome P450 system. An already available biochip seems to make this possible reliably and economically. Moreover, in science biochips will play a substantial role in the analysis of the genetic basis of common diseases. If these diseases are understood once, the clinical use of biochips will open an enormous potential for a predictive medicine. Biochips are a relevant topic for insurers--partially already today, much more however in the future.